Russia freezes travel cost for Winter Games

Moscow, Oct 3 (IANS) The prices of tickets for railway and air travel to the venue of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games and other destinations in Krasnodar region have been frozen for five-and-a-half months, the Russian government said Thursday.

According to a decree published on the government website, the freeze comes into force Nov 1.

The decree, signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, has frozen the cost of transportation services in the run up, during and after the 22nd Olympic and 11th Paralympic Winter Games. The games will take place in the Black Sea city of Sochi in February-March 2014.

The cost of inner-urban transport in Sochi will also be frozen between Jan 7 and April 16.

The decree also regulates prices for laundry services in Sochi.

It orders the Ministry of Transportation to sign agreements with the air and rail carriers on price freeze for passengers and cargo transportation for a period from Nov. 1, 2013 to April 16, 2014.

Last week, Russian flagship airline Aeroflot vowed not to hike its ticket prices during the Sochi Olympics.

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